Foldable chair

ABSTRACT

A foldable chair that includes front legs, rear legs, a seat and a collar slidable on the front legs pivotally coupling the front and rear legs.

[0001] Foreign priority is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. §119 toChinese Patent Application No. 02 2 13632.0, filed in the People'sRepublic of China on Mar. 29, 2002 and Chinese Patent Application No. 022 14988.0, filed in the People's Republic of China on May 31, 2002, thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The present disclosure relates to chairs. More particularly, thepresent disclosure relates to foldable chairs.

[0003] Foldable chairs of the A-frame variety typically have a pair offront and rear legs, or a pair of front and rear frames formed intoU-shaped stands, connected with a seat that is normally pivotally and/orrotatably mounted to the front and rear legs or frames. A backrest maybe mounted at or near an upper end of the front legs. The chairgenerally has a structure such that as the front and rear legs or framesare moved toward each other, pivoting, linking, rotating and/or slidingmembers permit the seat to rotate toward the backrest and the chairfolds into a generally flat configuration. Upon unfolding, the pivoting,linking, rotating or sliding members permit the chair to be secured withthe front and rear legs spread apart in an unfolded, in-use position.

SUMMARY

[0004] According to the present disclosure, a foldable chair includes apair of front legs and a pair of rear legs. Also included is a backrestextending from a top end portion of each of the front legs and a seatthat is pivotally coupled to the front legs. The foldable chair alsoincludes at least one fixed abutment, or other stopping means, and acollar, or other connection means, slidable on the front legs andpivotally coupling the front and rear legs. The collar cooperates withthe at least one fixed abutment to stop a spreading-apart of the frontand rear legs during an unfolding of the chair to an in-use position.

[0005] Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a foldable chair in anunfolded in-use position, according to the present disclosure.

[0007]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the foldable chair in aposition between folded and unfolded positions, according to the presentdisclosure.

[0008]FIG. 3 is a side view of the foldable chair in a folded position,according to the present disclosure.

[0009]FIG. 4 is a side, enlarged fragmentary view of the connectionmeans of the folded chair of FIG. 3, according to the presentdisclosure.

[0010]FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the connection meansin a non-abutted condition, according to the present disclosure.

[0011]FIG. 6 is a side fragmentary view of the connection means of FIG.5 in an abutted condition, according to the present disclosure.

[0012]FIG. 7 is a cut-away view of the connection means of FIG. 6,according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] A preferred embodiment includes a foldable chair 10 shown, forexample, in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In FIG. 1, chair 10 is in an unfolded orin-use state or condition. In FIG. 3, chair 10 is in a folded or storedstate or condition, and in FIG. 2, chair 10 is in a partially-foldedcondition.

[0014] Chair 10 includes a pair of front legs 12 and a pair of rear legs14. Also included is a backrest 20 that extends from a top end portion16 of each of the front legs 12. The chair 10 further includes a seat 22that is pivotally coupled to the front legs 12 at connection 26 andpivotally coupled to rear legs 14 at connection 24. Also included is aconnection means, such as, for example, a collar 32 slidable on thefront legs 12 and pivotally coupling the front and rear legs 12, 14. Thecollar 32 cooperates with the fixed abutments 30 to stop aspreading-apart of the front and rear legs 12, 14 during an unfolding ofchair 10 to the in-use position, as shown in FIG. 1. Chair 10 alsoincludes a stopping means, such as, for example, at least one fixedabutment 30. While two abutments 30 are shown (one on each lower end 34of backrest 20), only one abutment 30 is necessary.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1-7, but in more particular detail in FIGS.5-7, the collar 32 is located on each of the front legs 12. The fixedabutments 30 may be located on lower ends 34 of the backrest 20. Thefixed abutments 30 may extend downwardly from each lower end 34 adjacentto, on or along front legs 12. Alternatively, the fixed abutments 30 maybe directly mounted on the front legs 12 spaced apart from backrest 20,and may be in the form of pins, screws or tabs that protrude from thefront legs 12 to cooperate with the collar 32. Upon a folding of thechair 10, the seat 22 moves in direction X₁, the rear legs 14 move indirection Y₁ and the collar 32 slides downwardly in direction Z₁ (seeFIGS. 2, 3 and 5). Upon an unfolding of the chair 10, the seat 22 movesin direction X₂, the rear legs move in direction Y₂ and the collar 32slides upwardly in direction Z₂ (see FIGS. 1 and 5). The collar 32 mayinclude an element, formed as a lip-shaped extension, 36 or equivalentstructure that extends from the collar 32 at an angle such that itcreates a slot 38 to receive and/or cooperate with at least a portion ofthe fixed abutment 30 when the chair 10 is unfolded into an in-useposition. The element 36 may be of other sizes and shapes and may beconnected to, be made integral or monolithically with the slidablecollar 32. Element 36 may act as a guard to protect a user's fingersfrom getting caught in and/or around slot 38 or caught between collar 32and fixed abutment 30.

[0016] Collar 32 and the fixed abutments 30 create a gap 31 on the frontlegs (see FIGS. 6 and 7) between the collar 32 and the backrest 20 whenthe chair 10 is in an unfolded, in-use position. Gap 31 prevents auser's fingers from getting caught between the collar 32 and thebackrest when the chair is being unfolded and secured in an in-useposition.

[0017] The chair 10 may also have a pivot assembly 39 which includes apivot connector 40, leg insert 42 and pivot pin 44 to pivotally connectthe front and rear legs 12, 14, respectively. The pivot assembly 39, asshown in FIGS. 5-7, is connected to collar 32. The pivot connector 40has two spaced-apart reinforcing elements 41 connected to collar 32 bygluing, or other adhesive bonding, riveting, screwing, or otherequivalent securing techniques. Elements 41 reinforce collar 32 toprevent or reduce breaking or a twisting, bending or other undesirablemovement of collar 32 in undesirable directions. Pivot connector 40 mayalso be made integrally or monolithically with collar 32. Pivotconnector 40 has a hole 46 in each element 41 to accommodate pivot pin44, which pin 44 may be secured by rivets, screws, nuts and bolts orother equivalent securing means. Leg insert 42 has a hole 48 that ismatched up with holes 46 in elements 41 in order to receive pivot pin44. Leg insert 42 is inserted into a top portion 18 of rear leg 14 whichis configured to receive leg insert 42 and, thus, complete a pivotalconnection of the front and rear legs 12, 14.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment, the leg insert 42 with hole 48, isincluded as part of the rear leg 14. Leg insert 42 may be insertableinto rear leg 14 or be made integrally or monolithically with rear leg14. Leg insert 48 is then connectable with pivot connector 40 of thecollar 32, using holes 46, 48 and pivot pin 44.

[0019] In another embodiment, pivot assembly 39 is a unified element(not shown) that is monolithically formed with collar 32 or connected tocollar 32. The pivot connector 40 portion may have two spaced-apartreinforcing elements 41 with holes 46 to receive pivot pin 44. Or,connector 40 may be a single reinforcing element having protrusionsand/or receptacles for cooperating with leg insert 42 portion to providea pivotal coupling for the front and rear legs 12, 14 (this embodimentnot shown). Accordingly, the leg insert 42 may be protrusions and/orreceptacles for cooperating with connector 40 to provide the pivotalcoupling of the front and rear legs 12, 14.

[0020] The backrest 20 may be integral to, monolithically produced withor fixedly secured to the front legs 14. As shown in FIGS. 3-7, forexample, the backrest is secured by screws 50 to front legs 14.

[0021] The pair of front legs 12 and rear legs 14 are spaced apart asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and connected to seat 22. The seat 22 may haveits lateral sides 28 pivotally coupled at connection 24 to the rear legs14 near a rear end 52 of seat 22 and pivotally coupled to the front legs12 at connection 26 forward of coupled connection 24 toward a front end54 of seat 22.

[0022]FIG. 3 shows foldable chair 10 in a folded position having therear legs 14 in a relatively higher position than the front legs 12.This feature permits the foldable chair 10 to take up relatively lessspace upon being folded and/or upon stacking (not shown). However, ifdesired, the rear legs 14 may be of relatively equal length after chair10 is folded.

[0023]FIG. 4 shows the collar 32 in an unabutted condition, with thecollar 32 having slid down the front leg 12 to the position as alsoshown in FIG. 3.

[0024] The foldable chair 10 generally is folded and unfolded, forexample, as follows, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. Starting in the unfoldedposition of FIG. 1, the front end 54 of seat 22 is lifted in directionX₁ and pivots about front legs 12 at connection 26 and about rear legs14 at connection 24, thereby causing rear legs 14 to move in directionY₁, (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Simultaneously, collar 32 is moving indirection Z₁, downwardly on front legs 12 while rear legs 14 arerotating at point P, permitting rear legs 14 to continue to move indirection Y₁. Continued movement of seat 22 in direction X causes rearlegs 14 and collar 32 to create a folded chair 10, as shown in FIG. 3.To unfold chair 10, the movements discussed above occur in reverse, withcollar 32 eventually abutting fixed abutment 30, as shown in FIGS. 1, 6and 7.

[0025] Although the present disclosure has been described andillustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that this is doneby way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way oflimitation. The spirit and scope of the present disclosure are to belimited only by the terms of the appended claims.

1. A foldable chair comprising: a pair of front legs; a pair of rearlegs; a backrest extending from a top end portion of each of the frontlegs; at least one fixed abutment; a seat pivotally coupled to the frontand rear legs; and a collar slidable on the front legs pivotallycoupling the front and rear legs, and the collar cooperating with the atleast one fixed abutment to stop a spreading-apart of the front and rearlegs during an unfolding of the chair to an in-use position.
 2. Thefoldable chair of claim 1, wherein the at least one fixed abutment is onthe backrest.
 3. The foldable chair of claim 1, wherein the collarslides in a downward direction upon a folding of the chair and slides inan upward direction upon an unfolding of the chair.
 4. The foldablechair of claim 1, wherein the collar has a pivot assembly including apivot connector, leg insert and pivot pin to pivotally connect the frontand rear legs.
 5. The foldable chair of claim 4, wherein the pivotconnector includes two spaced-apart reinforcing elements.
 6. Thefoldable chair of claim 4, wherein the pivot connector is connected tothe collar by one of adhesive bonding, riveting and screwing.
 7. Thefoldable chair of claim 4, wherein the pivot connector is mademonolithically with the collar.
 8. The foldable chair of claim 4,wherein the pivot connector reinforces the collar to prevent one or moreof breaking, undesirable bending, twisting and other undesirablemovement.
 9. The foldable chair of claim 4, wherein the leg insert isinsertable into a top end portion of the rear legs to pivotally connectthe front and rear legs.
 10. The foldable chair of claim 1, wherein atop end portion of the rear legs is configured to be pivotallyconnectable to the collar.
 11. The foldable chair of claim 10, whereinthe top end portion of the rear legs includes a leg insert and pivot pinto pivotally connect the rear legs to the collar.
 12. The foldable chairof claim 1, wherein the rear legs have a pivot assembly including apivot connector, leg insert and pivot pin to pivotally connect the frontand rear legs.
 13. The foldable chair of claim 1, wherein the collarincludes an element formed as a lip-shaped extension that cooperateswith the at least one fixed abutment to stop a spreading-apart of thefront and rear legs during an unfolding of the chair to an in-useposition.
 14. The foldable chair of claim 13, wherein the lip-shapedextension extends from the collar at an angle such that it acts as aguide and creates a slot to receive the at least one fixed abutment. 15.The foldable chair of claim 13, wherein the lip-shaped extension acts asa guard to prevent a person's fingers from getting caught between thecollar and the at least one fixed abutment when the chair is moved to anin-use position.
 16. The foldable chair of claim 14, wherein acombination of the lip-shaped extension, slot and fixed abutment helpprevent undesirable rotation of the collar when the chair is in anin-use position.
 17. The foldable chair of claim 2, wherein the at leastone fixed abutment extends downwardly from lower end portions of thebackrest.
 18. The foldable chair of claim 1, wherein the at least onefixed abutment is mounted on the front legs.
 19. The foldable chair ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one fixed abutment is at least two fixedabutments.
 20. The foldable chair of claim 1, wherein the seat ispivotally coupled on its lateral sides near its rear end to the rearlegs and pivotally coupled to the front legs forward of the pivotalcoupling to the rear legs.
 21. The foldable chair of claim 1, whereinthe collar and the at least one fixed abutment create a gap between thecollar and the backrest on the front legs when the chair is in an in-useposition.
 22. The foldable chair of claim 1, wherein the gap prevents aperson's fingers from getting caught between the collar and the backrestwhen the chair is being unfolded into an in-use position.
 23. A foldablechair comprising: a pair of front legs; a pair of rear legs; a backrestextending from a top end portion of each of the front legs; a seatpivotally coupled to the front and rear legs; at least one stoppingmeans; and a connection means slidable on the front legs pivotallycoupling the front and rear legs and cooperating with the stopping meansto stop a spreading-apart of the front and rear legs during an unfoldingof the chair to an in-use position.
 24. The foldable chair of claim 23,wherein the stopping means is at least one fixed abutment.
 25. Thefoldable chair of claim 24, wherein the at least one fixed abutment ison the backrest.
 26. The foldable chair of claim 23, wherein the atleast one fixed abutment is mounted on the front legs.
 27. The foldablechair of claim 23, wherein the connection means is a collar.
 28. Thefoldable chair of claim 27, wherein the collar has a pivot assemblyincluding a pivot connector, leg inset and pivot pin that pivotallycouples the front and rear legs.
 29. The foldable chair of claim 23,wherein the at least one fixed abutment is at least two fixed abutments.30. The foldable chair of claim 24, wherein the at least one fixedabutment extends downwardly from the backrest.
 31. A foldable chair,comprising: front legs, rear legs and a seat connected in an A-framearrangement; collars on the front legs; the rear legs being pivotallyconnected to the collars; and the collars being slidable on the frontlegs when the chair is moved between folded and in-use positions. 32.The foldable chair of claim 31, further including a backrest extendingfrom a top end portion of the front legs.
 33. The foldable chair ofclaim 31, further including at least one fixed abutment.
 34. Thefoldable chair of claim 33, wherein the at least one fixed abutment ison a backrest.
 35. The foldable chair of claim 31, wherein the collarsslide in a downward direction upon a folding of the chair and slide inan upward direction upon an unfolding of the chair.
 36. The foldablechair of claim 31, wherein the collars have a pivot assembly including apivot connector, leg insert and pivot pin to pivotally connect the frontand rear legs.
 37. The foldable chair of claim 36, wherein the pivotconnector includes two spaced-apart reinforcing elements.
 38. Thefoldable chair of claim 37, wherein the pivot connector is connected tothe collar by one of adhesive bonding, riveting and screwing.
 39. Thefoldable chair of claim 36, wherein the pivot connector is mademonolithically with the collar.
 40. The foldable chair of claim 36,wherein the pivot connector reinforces the collar to prevent one or moreof breaking, undesirable bending, twisting and other undesirablemovement.
 41. The foldable chair of claim 36, wherein the leg insert isinsertable into a top end portion of the rear legs to pivotally connectthe front and rear legs.
 42. The foldable chair of claim 31, wherein atop end portion of the rear legs is configured to be pivotallyconnectable to the collars.
 43. The foldable chair of claim 42, whereinthe top end portion of the rear legs includes a leg insert and pivot pinto pivotally connect the rear legs to the collar.
 44. The foldable chairof claim 31, wherein the rear legs have a pivot assembly including apivot connector, leg insert and pivot pin to pivotally connect the frontand rear legs.
 45. The foldable chair of claim 33, wherein the collarsinclude an element formed as a lip-shaped extension that cooperates withthe at least one fixed abutment to stop a spreading-apart of the frontand rear legs during an unfolding of the chair to an in-use position.46. The foldable chair of claim 45, wherein the lip-shaped extensionextends from the collars at an angle such that it acts as a guide andcreates a slot to receive the at least one fixed abutment.
 47. Thefoldable chair of claim 45, wherein the lip-shaped extension acts as aguard to prevent a person's fingers from getting caught between thecollars and the at least one fixed abutment when the chair is moved toan in-use position.
 48. The foldable chair of claim 46, wherein acombination of the lip-shaped extension, slot and fixed abutment helpprevent undesirable rotation of the collars when the chair is in anin-use position.
 49. The foldable chair of claim 34, wherein the atleast one fixed abutment extends downwardly from lower end portions ofthe backrest.
 50. The foldable chair of claim 33, wherein the at leastone fixed abutment is mounted on the front legs.
 51. The foldable chairof claim 33, wherein the at least one fixed abutment is at least twofixed abutments.
 52. The foldable chair of claim 31, wherein the seat ispivotally coupled on its lateral sides near its rear end to the rearlegs and pivotally coupled to the front legs forward of the pivotalcoupling to the rear legs.
 53. The foldable chair of claim 31, whereinthe collars and the at least one fixed abutment create a gap between thecollars and the backrest on the front legs when the chair is in anin-use position.
 54. The foldable chair of claim 31, wherein the gapprevents a person's fingers from getting caught between the collars andthe backrest when the chair is being unfolded into an in-use position.